MLB Player News
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Josh Lester 1B | KC
Tigers' Josh Lester: Cast off 40-man roster
The Tigers outrighted Lester to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old received the chance to make his MLB debut late in the 2022 campaign, appearing in two games and going hitless across five plate appearances while sticking on the Tigers' active roster for less than a week. Given Lester's advanced age and lack of a prospect pedigree, it's not especially surprising that he went unclaimed off waivers after he was booted off the Tigers' 40-man roster.
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Kole Calhoun 1B | CLE
Kole Calhoun: Enters free agency
The Rangers declined to pick up Calhoun's $5.5 million club option for 2023 on Tuesday, making him a free agent.
The decision to pass on Calhoun's option isn't much of a surprise. He slashed just .196/.257/.330 over 424 plate appearances in 2022 -- by far the worst line of his career. It's unclear whether retirement is on the mind of the 35-year-old outfielder, but he will likely serve as a depth piece for his new team if he does continue playing.
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Triston Casas 1B | BOS
Red Sox's Triston Casas: Won't return to winter ball
Casas' knee injury will prevent him from returning to play for Tigres del Licey in the Dominican winter league, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Casas had only played three games for the Tigres before developing knee soreness in mid-October. The Red Sox are reportedly unconcerned about long-term issues but didn't want him risking anything in winter ball. He was down in the Dominican to make up for lost development time after missing nearly two months with a high ankle sprain. Casas is expected to head into 2023 as the Red Sox's primary first baseman or designated hitter without the benefit of those extra at-batas.
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Anthony Rizzo 1B | NYY
Anthony Rizzo: Becomes free agent
Rizzo has opted out of his 2023 contract with the Yankees and has become a free agent, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Rizzo's contract included a $16 million player option for the 2023 campaign, but he's elected to decline that option and test the waters in free agency. He slashed .224/.338/.480 with 32 homers, 75 RBI, six stolen bases and 77 runs scored through 130 games in 2022 with the Yankees.
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Yuli Gurriel DH | SD
Astros' Yuli Gurriel: Diagnosed with MCL sprain
Gurriel was diagnosed with a sprained right MCL on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Gurriel suffered the injury after a collision during a rundown in Game 5 of the World Series and will miss the remainder of the series as a result. The Astros have yet to say anything about his availability for next season, and a 38-year-old soon-to-be free agent coming off a down season isn't guaranteed to continue playing, but it seems as though he'd have time to get back to full health by Opening Day.
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Yuli Gurriel DH | SD
Astros' Yuli Gurriel: Removed from roster with injury
Gurriel (knee) was removed from the Astros' World Series roster Saturday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
Gurriel collided with Rhys Hoskins during a rundown in Game 5 and was forced to leave with a knee injury. The problem was evidently serious enough to end his season a day or two early. Korey Lee was added to the roster in his absence. He'll give the Astros an extra option behind the plate, allowing Christian Vasquez to serve as the designated hitter while Trey Mancini starts at first base.
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Yuli Gurriel DH | SD
Astros' Yuli Gurriel: Exits Game 5
Gurriel exited Game 5 of the World Series on Thursday due to right knee discomfort, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Gurriel got caught in a rundown and twisted his knee before exiting the game in the eighth inning. Manager Dusty Baker labeled Gurriel day-to-day, and with a day off between Game 5 and 6, it's possible that he isn't forced to miss any additional time. If Gurriel is unable to suit up, Trey Mancini is likely to enter the lineup and start at first base.
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Drew Ellis 1B | PHI
Mariners' Drew Ellis: Loses spot on 40-man roster
Ellis cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.
Ellis appeared in one game for Seattle after he was claimed off waivers in mid-June, and he spent the rest of the season at the Triple-A level. The 26-year-old had a .231/.346/.488 slash line with 15 home runs and 39 RBI in 70 games with Tacoma, though it wasn't enough to retain his spot on the 40-man roster.
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Rhys Hoskins 1B | CLE
Phillies' Rhys Hoskins: Notches sixth postseason homer
Hoskins went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Tuesday's 7-0 win over the Astros in Game 3 of the World Series.
Hoskins capped off the Phillies' five-homer night with a solo shot off Lance McCullers in the fifth inning, knocking the Astros' starter out of the game. The 29-year-old continued his amazing stretch of power in the postseason -- he has 11 hits over 56 at bats and six of them are home runs. Hoskins also reached a five-game hit streak with his performance in Game 3, over which he has hit four homers and knocked in seven RBI. He will look to stay hot against projected starter Cristian Javier in Game 4.
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Alec Bohm 3B | PHI
Phillies' Alec Bohm: Solo shot in Game 3
Bohm went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk during Tuesday's 7-0 win over the Astros in Game 3 of the World Series.
Bohm tacked on the third run of the night for the Phillies with a solo shot off Lance McCullers in the second inning, one of five homers for Philadelphia on the night. The 26-year-old has now recorded an extra-base hit in all three games of the World Series after hitting three in the previous 11 postseason games. Bohm is now hitting .208 with eight RBI in the postseason across 48 at-bats. The young third baseman will look to keep his power surge going Wednesday night in Game 4 of the World Series.